Ruto says govt will resolve Coast land problem

August 11, 2013 10:02 am

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The Deputy President said the government is committed to economically empowering coastal communities through the title deeds which they can use as collateral when applying for business loans/CFM

By CAPITAL REPORTER, KWALE, Kenya, Aug 11 – Deputy President William Ruto has said the Jubilee government will completely resolve the land problem at the Coast in its first term in office through the issuance of title deeds which would eradicate the squatter problem.

Ruto noted that the land problem in the Coast region was a campaign issue in the last general election and could have contributed to Jubilee’s poor performance in the area but he assured area residents that the government is determined to ensure its resolution.

“We have instructed the Ministry of Lands to issue title deeds to those whose land ownership is uncontested and we plan on issuing 1,000 this year alone so you can get down to business,” he said.

The Deputy President said the government is committed to economically empowering coastal communities through the title deeds which they can use as collateral when applying for business loans.

Ruto said the setting up of the Jubilee government’s pilot irrigation project at the Coast was proof of this commitment to win the confidence of coastal residents – a section of whom, through the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) – had called for the secession of the coastal region from the rest of Kenya.

“We would not want this issue to recur ever again, giving an excuse to some people to engage in criminal activities in the name of championing for their land rights,” Ruto said during the commissioning of a water project in Kinango constituency.

He added that the government was working toward the construction of mid-level colleges that would further empower the youth and help stem the emergence of outlawed groups such as the MRC.

“Kinango constituency had been identified as one of the two constituencies in the coast region that will benefit from a Sh300 million financial sponsorship from the government to put up an institute of technology,” he said.

And as opposition leaders led by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka called for the improvement of the region’s road network, Ruto said the government would tarmac the Kwale-Kinango-Samburu road to ensure the produce grown through the irrigation projects get to the market in good time.